Package opener



Jan. 16, 1934. K. EISELE PACKAGE OPENER Filed Au 10, 1951 INVENTOR 7M 6% BY ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 16, 1934 ilhlilhh s'rArss PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a cutting mechanism and, with regard to its more specific features, to

a device for cutting an opening in packages containing cigarettes or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a cutting mechanism which will be simple, practical and thoroughly durable. Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character of ready and economical manufacture. Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character whose operation is free from complication and thus may be successfully and efficiently accomplished with ease. Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character which will open a portion of a cigarette package or the like without damaging the articles contained therein. Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character which will reliably open a cigarette package and leave the out part of the package thereupon to act as a flap. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device forming the subject matter of my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of certain of the parts of my device in one operative position,

and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a package of cigarettes or the like after being opened by my device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmg.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it might be well to point out here that considerable dimculty has been experienced in opening cigarette packages in the past and, more particularly, those packages in which the low priced common cigarettes are wrapped. In order to keep the cigarettes in the best possible condition, for example,

free from the action of weather and the damaging effects of articles with which they may come into contact, many persons have found it convenient and desirable to open a portion of one end of the packages. By so opening these cigarette packages, the major portion of the cigarettes may be successfully retained within the package and also protected. However, such a method of opening cigarette packages necessitates considerable labor and inconvenience as well as wear and tear of the finger nails. Furthermore, some of the cigarettes are left exposed to the weather and, due to this opening, may also drop out of the package, this being especially true as the package becomes empty. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a practical device in which the above-mentioned difficulties as well as many others are successfully eliminated.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown a stand, generally indicated at 10, which may be formed of any suitable material as, for example, a metal casting. Preferably I provide an annular flange 11 extending about the base of stand 10 through which extend holes 12 for securing stand 10 to a counter, table, or the like.

A channel 13 extends across the top of stand 10, this channel preferably being formed by ways 14 and 15 as best shown in Figure 3. Ways 1% and 15 are preferably formed by undercutting the top surface of stand 16 or by a suitable mold from which stand 10 may be cast. Slidably mounted within channel 13 is a plate generally indicated at 16 having its sides beveled to correspond with ways 1d and 15, as best shown in Figure 3.

Extending vertically from one end of plate 16 four-sided receptacle 1'? open at the top and bottom and positioned over an opening in plate 16 so that a cigarette package placed in receptacle 17 will rest upon the surface of channel 13, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Preferably, the interior of receptacle 17 is dimensioned to receive a common package of cigarettes and, more particularly, the common brands of low priced ciga rettes now on the market. Thus, such a package of cigarettes 18, as shown in Figure 5, may be inserted in an upright position in receptacle 1'? so that one end of the package lies upon the surface of channel 13. As plate 16 is slidably mounted within channel 13, the plate may be slid along the channel while the package 18 is held within receptacle 1'7.

A portion 19 of plate 16 is raised and preferably undercut to form a channel 20 facing the surface of channel 13, running lengthwise of plate 16 and preferably near one side of receptacle 17, as best shown in Figure 3. The lower ends of the side walls of receptacle 17 are cut away in registry with channel 20 to permit a knife to enter receptacle 1''! near the bottom thereof. A knife 22 is secured to the top surface of channel 13 in the channel 20 by screws 23 and 24 (see Figure 4). Knife 22 extends to the left, as viewed in Figure 3, and has a cutting edge 25 preferably in substantial registry with channel 20. Edge 25 preferably runs at an angle to way 15, and a second knife edge is formed upon knife 22 along edge 26 thereof, as viewed in Figure 4. An opening 27 is formed in the base of channel 13 beneath knife 22 to permit the cut portion of the cigarette package to pass beneath the knife.

Secured to plate 16 preferably to the rear of receptacle 1'7 is a bolt 28 extending downwardly through a slot 29 in the base of channel 13, as best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Bolt 28 may be secured to plate 16 by a nut 30 threaded thereon and provided with a sleeve 31 fitted upon the under side of the bolt as seen in Figures 2 and 3. Secured to bolt 28 in any convenient manner is a spring 32 in turn connected to stand 10 in any convenient manner preferably at the left hand end thereof, as viewed in Figure 2, as for example, by a screw 33. Accordingly, bolt 28 is free to move with plate 16 as it slides along channel 13, due to slot 29, and, if receptacle 17 is forced toward the right, as viewed in Figure 2, spring 32 is stretched and tends to act against such action so that upon release of the parts they snap back to the position shown in Figure 2.

In operation, my device is particularly adapted to open cigarette packages of the character described above and, when I desire to open such a package, I insert it in receptacle 1'? as more clearly shown in Figure 2, and move receptacle 17 together with plate 16 to the right as viewed in Figure 2, whereupon knife edges 25 and 26 come into contact with package 18 and, upon subsequent relative motion between these two parts, knife 22 enters package 18 to slit the sides and end of the covering. The cut portion of the pack extends down into opening 27 as the action proceeds and, when receptacle 17 has crossed knife edge 25, one position thereof being shown best in Figure 4, bolt 28 abuts against the end of slot 29 to stop further relative motion. When such a position is reached, receptacle 17 may be released and spring 32 exerts a tension upon bolt 28 and consequently upon part 16 to return the parts to their normal position or that position best shown in Figure 2.

Upon removal of package 18, the end thereof which was in substantial contact with the base of channel 13, as described above, is severed to form a flap 34. I have so arranged knife edges 25 and 26 with respect to the base of channel 13 that the knife may successfully form flap 3 1 without damaging the cigarettes contained in package 18. Besides having an opening at one end of the cigarette package, the advantages of which have been described above, they also have formed flap 34 thereon so that when package 18 is carried in the pocket of the user, the cigarettes are protected from damage which might be sustained due to the contact with other articles in the users pocket or from falling out of the package.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical and emcient construction in which the several objects hereinbefore described as Well as many others are successfully and efficiently achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a supporting stand having a track upon the top thereof, a knife mounted within said track and having its edge running substantially crosswise thereof, a cigarette package receptacle mounted within said track and adapted to slide relative to said supporting stand, the bottom of said receptacle being open to expose one end of said package to said knife edge, and resilient means acting to force said receptacle away from said knife edge.

2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a supporting stand having a track upon the top thereof, a knife mounted within said track and to one side thereof, said knife having its sharp edge running across a portion of said track and at an acute angle to the sides thereof, and means holding a cigarette package within said track and adapted to move relative to said supporting stand toward and away from said knife edge, the portion of said last-mentioned means adjacent said knife edge being open to expose said package to said knife edge.

KARL EISELE. 

